Hot on the heels of news that 10 Columbia High School fencers have qualified to compete in the Junior Olympics in Utah in February, we have some news of outstanding younger fencers in the two towns.
Much of the success of local youth fencers can be attributed to the New Jersey Fencing Alliance which has brought world-class training and the hosting of major fencing tournaments to town, making Maplewood a major destination in the fencing world.
A case in point: NJFA fencer Jack Woods has become as the only ten-year-old fencer in the country to hold the highly coveted “D” rating, and the first ten year old to earn it on the East Coast.
Woods, of Maplewood, had already made a name for himself in the National fencing circuit, being ranked number one in the country in the Youth ten years and under men’s foil, and being only one of two ten year old fencers in the country qualified to fence in the Cadet 17 years and under, in major tournaments because of his consistent winnings in both the Youth 14 years and under, and Youth 12 years and under, Men’s foil events around the country.
Late last year, Woods was the youngest to compete against New Jersey’s top 16 and 17 year old men’s foil fencers, in the Junior Olympic Qualifier Tournament held at Rutgers University, where the top nine of the 33 elite fencers would qualify for the Junior Olympics. Woods displayed exceptional fencing against his experienced older opponents and despite his small stature and smaller weapon went on to win the Bronze medal.
His win earned him the highly coveted “D” rating. In the past five years this rating has been awarded to four ten-year-old fencers — all were from California.
Former Captain of the United States Fencing Team Jeff Bukantz said of Woods, “When I watch him compete, I wonder if he’s already, pound for pound, as well-rounded as I was during my prime. The kid is usually unflappable, unyieldingly disciplined and appears to be toying with most of his peers. He goes toe to toe with high schoolers, as well, in spite of the age and size difference."
Woods recently won the gold medal in the Y12 event at the 5th Annual Barbara Lynch Charity RYC and the NJFA Youth Cup and then in the Y14 event won the Bronze medal and then the Silver at the above names tournaments respectively. He also won the gold medal at two recent Y17 years and under, Cadet events, held at NJFA.
And there are more standout youth fencers in the two towns:
Andrew Doddo from South Orange, continues to win medals in the Y14 men’s sabre events at local competitions, and just recently placed sixth at the NJFA Youth Cup Tournament.
Camille Pham, who resides in Maplewood, is also starting to shine in local tournaments, and recently also placed sixth at the NJFA Youth Cup Tournament.
Another Maplewood resident who had an outstanding performance and came second in the Y14 Women’s foil event at the NJFA Youth Cup Tournament, was Marissa Viqueira.
Bukantz says, “There has never been a higher standard of Youth Fencing, and it is simply amazing to see how talented and well-trained these youth fencers are."
